Week 29 Prayer Requests

1.  Colson - eye tumor that was removed but having an issue with tissue rejection
2.  Colin - Blake's nephew, has a crushed arch from an accident about 4 months ago, medical bills are piling up.
3.  Trish - No further news which is a good thing
4.  Cade - Were able to remove one medication, steroids seem to help, may point to an autoimmune condition rather than viral encephalitis.  which could lead to better treatment.
5.  Cindy - Kristen's coworker, who lost her husband and is now taking care of her husband's
elderly relatives.

Week 29: The Seed, The King, and the Promises of Abraham

Introduction

-  We are looking at the Bible and specifically the Torah as a story.

-  After the events of Genesis and the fall, God institutes a plan to redeem His creation.

-  That plan is a mystery that gradually unfolds throughout the Old Testament and is fully revealed in the gospels.

-  This plan is like a puzzle whose pieces the Old Testament gradually puts together.  Working in one area and then another and then joining those areas together.

-  The original seed of this plan takes place right after the fall and amidst the judgment issues on Adam and Eve.   God promises that a seed of the woman will defeat the seed of the serpent.  

- The rest of the book of Genesis follows this line of thought.  The word seed occurs 59 times in Genesis.  The book of Genesis is divided into 10 sections that begin with the phrase “these are the generations of” and are followed by a genealogy.

- We have followed the promise of the seed and have seen how it developed through the line of Seth, through the sons of Noah specifically Shem, and how it culminated in the calling of Abram.  

-  Today we are going to see how the concept of a coming king joins with this idea of the seed who will defeat the serpent.

Kingship in the Garden

-  Adam was originally to rule Eden as a vassal king of God.  As the image of God He was given power to subdue and rule over creation as well as the responsibility of tending and guarding it.

-  As a vassal king Adam failed, but God was determined that His glory would fill the earth and He has decided that humanity would be the instrument who would accomplish that task.

-  The promise of the seed is the means by which God would accomplish His plan for creation.

Kingship in Abraham

-  At several points God promise to Abraham includes mention of kingly rule:

1.  Genesis 17:6

2.  Genesis 17:16

3.  Genesis 22:17

Q.  Which tribe to the kings of Israel come from?

 Other than Joseph, we learn the most about Judah in Genesis.

- Judah is the one who does not want to kill Joseph but he wants to sell him for money.

- The story of Judah and Tamar oddly interrupts the story of Joseph.  It seems out of place, but when we understand that Genesis is about the seed it makes sense that it is included because his line is in danger of dying out.  It is Tamar who saves Judah’s line.  

-  Judah also takes Benjamin’s place rather than allow Benjamin to be taken prisoner.

Genesis 49

-  Chapter 49 begins with the phrase “b’aherit hayamim”  or in the end of days or in the latter days.  This phrase is repeated throughout the Old Testament and seems to indicate the last days or the end times.  

-  Judah is singled out for a special blessing in 49:8-12

-  This is unusual because Judah is not the oldest but the fourth in line.  His older brothers have all demonstrated traits that show they are not worthy of the blessing.

1.  Reuben - Reuben slept with one of his father’s concubines.  In the ANE this 

  is an attempt to take power.  Its the same thing Absalom does to his father 

David when he leads a coup.  

2.  Simeon & Levi - After their sister Dinah is raped by the Hivite prince Shechem.  Simeon & Levi offer Dinah as a wife to Shechem if all the male Hivites will become circumcised.  Three days later, when the Hivites were all sore, Simeon and Levi massacre all the males in the village and steal all their stuff.

-  Contrast this to Judah who offers himself in the place of Benjamin because of his love of his father.  

-  Power in violence is not how the people of God will exercise rule.  That is the way of the kingdoms of this world.  That is the world of Cain and Lamech, of Pharaoh, the Assyrian and the Babylonians of Pilate and the Romans. God’s people will rule by sacrifice and love.

Mark 10:35-45

Q.  Why do I bring this passage into the discussion?

-  Notice how Jesus challenges James and John for their request.  They want to rule as earthly rulers.  Jesus says that He rules by the cross.  Jesus’ people are different they do not rule as the gentile lords by power.  They rule by being a servant.  Just like Judah but in a much greater way, Jesus gives his life as a ransom for many.

-  Jesus critiques the earthly city’s concept of kingship and replaces it with a heavenly one.

Genesis 49:8-12

-  Judah is promised kingship in verse 8 - his brothers will bow down to him.

 The scepter and the rulers staff, signs of kingship will not depart from him.  

The word Shiloh is notoriously difficult to translate.  It is the object of the verb “come”

The ESV translates it as tribute.  

 In verse 10 this kingly rule of Israel will culminate in a king to whom this rule belongs and this king will rule all peoples, not just Israel.  

The universality of the rule points us back to Genesis 1:28.  Adam’s original commission was that Adam would fill all of the earth and subdue it.  

Adam’s original goal is to be fulfilled by this king who will come from the tribe of Judah.  

-  His kingdom will be one of abundance and prosperity.  Grapevines will be so abundant you can tie your donkey to them and wine so plentiful that you can wash your clothes with it.  

Numbers 24

-  The Israelites are camped near the country of Moab.  The king of Moab, Balak is scared that the Israelites are going to conquer him and his people so he hires a pagan prophet named Balaam to curse Israel.

-  Balak commands Balaam to “curse these people for me, since they are too mighty for me.  Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Q.  Where have you heard this language before?

-  God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that he would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.

-  Balaam is trying to do the opposite.

-  Balaam is thwarted by an angel and commanded to go back to Balak with a word from YHWH

Numbers 23:7-10

Q.  Where have you heard these words before?

-  Once again in the promises given to Abraham.  This time it is a quote from Genesis 13:16.  God promised Abraham that he would make them more numerous than the dust of the earth.  

Numbers 23:24

Q.  Where have you heard these words before?

-  This is taken from Genesis 49.  This is a prophecy of Israel and its king’s dominance in the last days.  Balaam is bringing together the prophecies of Genesis 12 with Genesis 49.  The take home message is that the promises of Abraham in Genesis 12-22 will come about as a result of the king from the line of Judah prophesied by Jacob in Genesis 49.  This would also cause the reader the recall the promises of kingship in Genesis 17 & 22.  

Numbers 24:14-17

Q.  Where you have heard these words before?

-  The passage starts with the phrase “b’aherit hayamim” or the latter days.  This phrase further links these texts and tells us that we are talking about the end times.  

-  Verse 17 uses the scepter to return to the passage from Genesis 49 that talks of Judah.

-  There is also an allusion to Genesis 3:15, the king crushes the head of Moab.  Here Moab, as Israel’s enemy cursing Israel and preventing Israel’s passage into the promised land acts as the seed of the serpent.  

-  All the promises of Genesis are woven together by Balaam in his prophecy.  The blessing promised to Abraham are linked to the king from Judah mentioned in Genesis 49.  This king and his scepter are developed to link with the promise of Genesis 3:15.  

-  The major blocks of text in the Old Testament are linked by a poem that begins with “b'aherit yammim”.  In each the central figure calls an audience together using imperatives and advises them using cohortatives of what will happen in the last days.  

Each of these is followed by an epilogue.  

Q.  If b’aherit means in the latter or in the end, what is the opposite?

 In the beginning or b’reshit.  The pentateuch is deliberately instructing us not only about the beginning of God’s plan, but the end.  

  This plan begins with Adam given a commission to rule and subdue the earth.  Our story has seen Noah given the commission and failing.  Abraham has been given the commission as a promise Israel is given the commission as well but also we have seen a history of failure.  Eventually this will change as Abraham’s promise rests in the king of Judah who will not fail.  Thus the commission of Adam is fulfilled by the king of the tribes of Judah.  This will happen in the last days.  All the different threads of Genesis are being woven together.

 Paul understands Jesus as the fulfillment.  Romans 1:4-5

John also see Jesus as the fulfillment.  Revelation 5:5

Week 28 Prayer Requests

1.  Tamzen's grandmother is recovering from a stroke and may need toes and/or foot amputated.

2.  Jacob Owens is dealing with a lot of middle school stuff.

3.  Samantha from KNO is back in school.

4.  Kristine (friend of the Howell's) broke her back sledding.  She has a two year-old child.

Week 28 The Food Laws

Introduction

-  I am approaching this topic with a fair amount of trepidation.  Why does God institute these food laws when we no longer follow them anymore.  Why were these laws so important at one time, but not now?  Typically the issue is ignored.  When explanations are given I have found them unsatisfying.

-  The key is our approach at looking at the Bible as a story.  In a story, events change things and actions appropriate at certain points in the story become inappropriate or unnecessary as the story changes.  

Food Laws

-  Why were there clean and unclean foods?  What is the rationale?

1.  Hygeine

-  In a pre-scientific society like Israel, God could not exactly explain things like germ theory and parasites so certain animals that carried diseases were regarded as off limits to improve the health of the Israelites.  

-  For example, pigs carried trichinosis, so prohibiting the consumption of pork would prohibit the spread of trichinosis.

-  The Seventh Day Adventists follow this logic and have developed updated food laws to promote healthy eating among their members.  

-  There are several problems with this theory.  In the case of pork, trichinosis is rare and is easily remedied by cooking pork.  The Israelites were not dumb, they knew that had to properly cook meat.

-  Other animals also carry disease.  For example, almost all birds other than scavengers and birds of prey are allowed and the chance of salmonella in undercooked birds is pretty high.  Also it is much easier to undercook poultry than pork.

Some animals that are not allowed are relatively disease free, for example camel meat.

-  Also if it was about hygiene it would be more effective to order clean living conditions for the animal and clean butchering techniques.  Also simply ordering proper methods of cooking would make a big difference.

-  Jesus will abolish the food laws and Israel is still a pre-scientific society.

2.  Pagan Practices

-  Pork and other forbidden animals were used in pagan rituals and therefore should be avoided by the Israelites.

-  While we do have evidence that pigs were involved in pagan rituals we do not have any evidence for many of the animals forbidden by the food laws.

-  Also goats, sheep, and bulls were suitable for consumption and sacrifices and are commonly used in pagan religious ceremonies.

-  We have plenty of examples of fish gods in the ancient world but not crustacean or shellfish deities.

4.  Douglas/Wenham

-  Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham has developed a theory of the food laws based on the anthropologist Mary Douglas work with tribal African cultures who also observe food taboos.  

-  Holiness is an attribute that God possessed.  Things that are not holy are things that are not like God. We learned in Genesis that God is a creator and bringer of life.  Things that deviate from life and creation are unholy.

-  Birds that eat carrion are specifically forbidden.  God is life and an animals that eat dead things does not exhibit the qualities of God.  

-  This is also the rationale for avoiding animal carcasses.  

-  God is also a God of order.  In creation, God separated the land from the water and the land from the sky.

-  The creation account in Genesis divided the world into three realms: the land, the water, and the air.  

-  We see the same division in Leviticus 11.  The chapter starts by distinguishing clean and unclean animals that live on land, then moves to those in the water, and finally the animals that fly in the air.

-  Let me try to explain the logic with the animals of the sea first because they are the easiest.

-  Fish are the typical animal found in the water.  They have fish and scales and swim.  This is what animals in the water are supposed to do.  The fish is the standard pure type of water animal.  

-  Animals in the water that transgress this pattern are considered unclean.  Lobsters crawl, which is what animals in the water are not supposed to do.  Shellfish do not have finds and scales.  They transgress the boundaries and God is a God of order.

-  Animals in the air are supposed to have wings and fly.  Birds, other than the ones who eat dead things, are acceptable.  Insects that have wings and crawl are not acceptable because they are not acting like they should.  Insects designed for walking, like those with joints are acceptable.

-  Land animals that have cloven hoofs and chew their cud are the ideal land animal.  Those that depart from that standard like those with cloven who do not chew the cud, like pigs, or those that chew the cud but do not have cloven hoofs are a departure - so no rock badgers.  

-  Land animals that walk on all fours should have hoofs.  This is how land animals should work.  Animals with paws are like hands.  They should not walk on all fours.  They are a deviation from the norm.

-  The chapter ends with those animals with indeterminate modes of movement because they do not fit in any category.  These animals are those that swarm or those that crawl like snakes and lizards.

Interpretation

-  All of these animals that are unclean bring disorder to the classifications.  They bring disorder to the taxonomy.  God is a God of life and order.  The very diet of the Israelites would communicate to the Israelites that God is life and order.

-  Looking at it from the other side, living outside the stands that God has set leads to disorder and death.  The prohibition against the animals that do not fit into the disordered taxonomies and animals that are associated with death reinforce that death and disorder are to be separated from God’s people.

-  The problem is that disorder and death are part of humanity and I think that is the point.  The food law were a mirror showing God does not tolerate disorder and death and yet accepts Israel.  The prohibition against bacon shows the need for grace.

-  Animals that are clean are still not holy.  Holy animals are those that are without blemish and acceptable for sacrifice.

Sacred Space/Sacred People

-  The division of the food laws parallels other divisions.  The gentiles were unclean, Israel was clean, priests were holy.

-  The world was unclean, Israel was clean, the temple was holy.

-  The food laws reinforced to Israel that they were distinct and holy.  Israel set themselves apart from the nations by their diet because God had set them apart as a special people. 

-  You may find the food law arbitrary.  God also says the selection of Israel was arbitrary (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).

Abolition of Food Laws

-  So why do we not observe the food laws anymore.  Why is cool now to eat rock badgers or shrimp scampi?

-  First, Jesus declared the food law abolished.  Mark 7:19 is very clear.

-  We also have Peter’s vision before witnessing to the Roman centurion Cornelius.  Peter is given a vision of all kinds of animals, reptiles, birds and told to rise, kill, and eat.  When Peter protests because he does not eat unclean animals, the voice tells him, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

-  So God changes His mind and God can do what He wants.  Do we leave it at that?  

-  This is where reading the Bible as a story helps us understand better what is going on.  Let me explain it in Star Wars.  Luke Skywalker thinks Princess Leia is hot and so it is appropriate to make out with her.  However, the story changes and he finds out Leia is Luke’s sister, now because the story has changed that action is inappropriate.  

-  As Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites were chosen to be God’s special representatives on Earth.  They were a holy people, set aside and the food laws were a a way to make this point to Israel.

-  Israel was holy and kingdom of Priests but this was not the end goal.  They were set aside specifically so they could be priests to the nations.  Abraham was told that all nations would be blessed in him.

-  The prophets looked forward to the time when all the nations would be included as God’s people and the separation between Israel and the gentiles would end.

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations that my salvation may reach the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6

-  Israel failed at their task, but Jesus as Israel’s representative succeeded.  Now that Israel’s task is complete, there is no need for Israel’s separation.  Israel’s purpose in election has stood.

-  The story has moved on because of Jesus and the food laws no longer make sense and are inappropriate because the story has changed.

Week 27 Homework

This Sunday our topic will be bacon.  We will be looking at the Levitical food laws and attempting to answer three questions:

1.  What is the reason for the food laws?

2.  Why were goats and cows OK to eat but not shrimp and pork?

3.  Why is it cool to eat bacon now? Why the change?   

Your homework is to read Leviticus 11.  It is pretty long and not particularly interesting, so reading the first 23 verses will probably give you enough of the flavor of the passage if you can't make it through the whole chapter.

Week 27 Levitical Sacrifices

Introduction

• The key to understand Leviticus is to read it in context.  The division of the books is somewhat artificial.  They are part of a continuous narrative that we have imposed an order upon.

1. What just happened prior to the book of Leviticus?

• The Israelites had been freed from captivity in Egypt, they have received the law, and built a tabernacle.  Exodus closes with God Himself moving into the tabernacle.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle.”

Exodus 40:34-35

• So what we have said is God is now dwelling with His people.  This is the Immanuel principle - God is with us.
• However, God is holy and cannot dwell among sin.  So partly the point of Leviticus is to communicate to Israel the gravity of their sin and the separation sin brings.  The other point of Leviticus is to provide a means by which despite the fact of the people can approach God.
• Leviticus 1-7 describes the sacrifices.  Leviticus 11-15 talks about purity which will 

  be the topic of next week’s small group.

• Leviticus starts by describing the sacrifice that provides atonement for sin.

Sacrifice

• On of the first clear instance of sacrifice is Genesis 9:20 when Noah sacrifices some of the clean animals he had taken aboard the ark.
• This is not just an empty gesture, it was an act of faith since there would be very few animals left at this point.
• Genesis 6:5 tells the rational for the flood:

   “YHWH saw the wickedness of man was great and that every intention of the thoughts 

   of his heart was only evil continually.  And YHWH was sorry that he made man and it 

   grieved Him to His heart.”

• Genesis 8:21 describes God’s thoughts after the flood:

   “And when YHWH smelled the pleasing aroma, YHWH said in His heart, “I will never

   curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from birth”

• It seems the flood has accomplished nothing, nevertheless God decides to allow man

   to continue without the threat of continual punishment - what changed?

• God has decided to no longer deal with sin through judgment but to accept the 

    sacrifice of a righteous man given in faith.  It is this principle that allows God to 

    continue with man.

Offerings

1. Ascension Offering (Olah)

• Offered twice a day on behalf of all of Israel.  Accompanied by the grain

  offering and a drink offering.

• The whole animal was burned - this is the type of offering Noah offered and it was also the offering that was substituted for Isaac.
• It was sin in general not a specific sin.
• The animal must be a male bull, ram, or goat, but could also be a bird.  It was very costly but there was a sliding scale so even the poor could participate.
• The offerer pressed on the animals head with his hands.  In other places in the O.T. we are told that this act symbolizes transference.  The offerer is transferring his life to the animal.  This is the principle of substitution. 
• The offerer was the one who killed, skinned, and butchered the animal.
• It was the blood of the animal that was the key.  The blood represented life.  The life of the animal must be given in order for the Israelites to have relationship with God.  
• Drove home the seriousness of the separation brought about by sin.
• Represents consecration or complete devotion to God.  Something consecrated is something that moves from the realm of the everyday to the realm of the sacred. The name olah means to ascend.  The idea is the sacrifice is completely burned and the smoke ascends to God as a pleasing aroma.

1. Tribute Offering (Minchah)

• Grain was offered and the wheat or barley was to be ground fine.  In the ancient near east grain was not a commodity - it was valuable and was used for beer.  It took a lot of work to grind it fine.  This was the type of flour eaten by a king, not a commoner.
• Sometimes the word minchah is used to describe tribute presented to a king such a when Ehud brings tribute to King Eglon.
• The grain was mixed with oil and presented either cooked or uncooked in an oven or on a griddle like flat bread.  Leaven was never used nor honey.  This is probably because leaven decomposes the flour and honey speeds the process. 
• The amount was equivalent to about 1 bag of flour and 1/2 gallon of olive oil.
• Salt was also added which is something used in covenant ceremonies.
• “All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to YHWH I give to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual due.  It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH for you and your seed with you.”

  Numbers 18:19

• Salt is used to preserve and cure food unlike leaven which breaks down food.  Also

  frankincense burned with offering.

-  Only a small amount burned the rest given to the priest.

• Usually offered along with the who burnt offering, but offerer did not identify with the     

   offering so not used for atonement.  The purpose was to express devotion to a king.

1. Peace Offering (Shalom)

• Made at anytime as either a sign of thanksgiving or as a freewill offering.  The name derives from the same root as the word shalom.
• Offerer would select a male or female from the flock and slaughter and lay hands on the animal identifying his self with the animal.  They would slaughter the animal and the priest would collect the blood and sprinkle it on the altar.
• The animal would then be skinned.  The kidneys, fat, and liver would be removed. These would be burnt and were considered God’s portion.  These parts are considered delicacies.
• The breast and right thigh were given to the priest and the remainder was eaten by the offerer.  
• There is some evidence to suggest that this may have been one of the the only times an ancient Israelite ate meat.
• Eating a meal together had more significance in the Ancient Near East than in our culture.

Accompanying Offerings

• According to Numbers 15 every sacrifice was accompanied by a grain offering and a wine offering.
• About half gallon was used but the amount varied somewhat according to the animal sacrificed.

Atonement

The olah is said to be made for atonement.  Atonement is another word we use a lot in church, but I think its meaning is fuzzy to us.  It has become church and abstract.  What I want to do is make it more concrete.

When an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable.  But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner shall be put to death.  If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.  If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to the same rule.  If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver and the ox shall be stoned.”

Exodus 21:28-32

Use examples from the small group.  

The interesting part of this passage is that the word for ransom is kofer which is the same root as is used as atonement in Levitcus.  A ransom is the price paid to avoid the death penalty.  It is the price paid for someone’s life. In the words of Exodus it means redemption of life.  This is the meaning of atonement.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I, I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Leviticus 17:11.

Leviticus says that it is God who provides a means of atonement.  God is the one who provides for the redemption of life.  He pays our ransom.  These sacrifices are repeated over and over as Hebrews points out.  Ultimately, they are inadequate. They point to something bigger and that is Christ.  Christ is also given to us by God to make atonement for life.  

Logic of the Sacrifices

• The sacrifices in Leviticus are presented in a logical order.  First the olah which represents atonement, then the minchah and next the shalom offering.
• As a result of atonement we can devote ourselves to God and have peace and fellowship with Him.
• Acts 2 describes the life of the early believers.  These were those who had accepted the atonement that Jesus had represented and offered for them. Pentecost had just happened.  

Q. What is the significance of Pentecost?

• Pentecost signified the return of God’s Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”

Acts 2:1&2

Q.  Where have we seen this before?

• In Exodus 40 when God’s Holy Spirit entered the tabernacle which is why there is a book of Leviticus.  

• Acts 2:42 describes the actions as a community of those who Christ had provided atonement.  

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

You see the atonement of Christ led to devotion and fellowship expressed in the breaking of bread and prayers.  Its the same logic as Leviticus.

     Q.  Where do you see communion in this scheme                                                                                      Q.   In Ancient Israel, God is offered the bread and the priest at a portion, the wine is completely given to God.  Why do we now eat just the bread and wine at communion?

Week 26 Homework

Read Leviticus 1

The first seven chapters of Leviticus detail 5 different types of sacrifices. When reading chapter 1, don't get too bogged down in the details, all I want you to do is picture what is going on and get a flavor for what was involved with the sacrifices.